Democrats are willing to pass a continuing resolution at the $986 billion spending level, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz said.
Three days into the government shutdown and there’s no real end in sight.
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz told host Chuck Todd on Thursday’s The Daily Rundown that Democrats have already conceded to Republicans by agreeing to keep the government open through Dec. 15 at a $986 billion funding level – much lower numbers that conservatives demanded.
“They need to take the win,” the Florida Democrat said of her party’s offering. “This is a big concession for congressional Democrats.”
“That [number] is something below sequester levels. It’s inappropriate, it hurts people, but yet, we understand that it can’t be our way or the highway and so we’re willing for the period of the continuing resolution to accept $986 billion as the spending level,” she said.
But Tea Party Republicans still won’t budge on letting go of demands to defund Obama’s Affordable Care Act, a split from moderate factions within the Republican Party willing to approve a clean continuing resolution to keep the government running.
Wasserman-Schultz said that what’s happening within the Republican Party is “just irrational and irresponsible.” She added that if Republicans could put a clean bill on the floor at the agreed upon spending level, the shutdown would be over within 15 minutes.
Her advice for Republican leaders:
“Get their Tea Party extremist colleagues to stop throwing a tantrum, to stop insisting on not being disrespected, to take this deal,” she said. “Stop acting like spoiled children” and “take the win.”
Many lawmakers, including House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Harry Reid, have already pledged to refuse or donate their pay during the shutdown, but Wasserman-Schultz said that she still plans on accepting her pay during the shutdown.
“I continue to support reopening the government, making sure that everybody who is doing a job in the federal government can earn their salary,” she said.
Check out Chuck Todd’s full conversation with Debbie Wasserman Schultz above.